Galloping horse



July 17, 1951 F. J. WEGLARZ 2,561,301

I GALLOPING HORSE Filed Nov. 6, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 III! I n 6g 66) INVENTOR.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. J. WEGLARZ GALLOPING HORSE Bank Jgly 17, 1951 Filed Nov. 6, 19 8 IN V EN TOR. I JMZZQZ} Patented July 17, 1951 UNITED STATES GALLOPING HORSE Frank J. Negla-rz, Chicago, Ill.

Application November 6, 1948, Serial No. 58,779

Glaims.

The present invention relates generally to a novel and improved galloping or walking horse which, upon to and fro movement of the rider, advances the horse forwardly by successive stages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved rocking or galloping horse which is not only capable of advancing forwardly on successive stages upon to and fro movement of the rider, but also has means associated therewith and under the control of the rider to cause the horse to turn to the right or left in a gradually curving arc.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved galloping or rocking horse which is provided with forward rocking sections having rollers journaled on theforward ends thereof which permit the horse to roll forwardly at greater stages or which may also act as a brake to interrupt the rolling action and serve as a stop.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a construction and an arrangement of the various parts in the manner hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved rocking or galloping horse;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same showing a portion of the horse body in cross section;

Fig. 3 is a similar side elevational view as Fig. 2 showing the position of the front legs of the horse when the rider rocks 'tforwardlv;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the operating mechanism for actuating the forward movement of the horse;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view showing the manner in which the rollers are attached to the front ends of the front rocker sections; and

. Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view showing the manner in which the front rocker sections are telescopically mounted in the rear rocker sections.

In illustrating one form in which my invention may assume in practice, I have shown the same in connection with a simulated horse, generally indicated by the reference character Ill supported on rigid or stationary rear legs H. The front legs 12 are adapted to swing backwardly and forwardly about pivots hereinafter described through longitudinal slots l3 located in the lower forward portion of the body of the horse. Located longitudinally of and suitably secured within the body of the horse is a box-like or main frame structure, generally indicated by the reference character M. The main frame l4 comprises a horizontal. bottom I5 which is preferably, though not necessarily, made of wood. The bottom I5 is provided with a forwardly pointed or tapered extension I5. The opposite sides of the frame or bottom i5 is provided with opposite vertical. side walls It which are preferably made of sheet iron and have their upper edges bent at right angles so as to form reinforcing flanges H. The opposite ends of the main frame [4 are provided with transverse front and rear end walls [8 and I9. These walls 18 and I9 are preferably made of wood. The-front end wall I8 is reinforced by sheet metal plate 20 and is provided with a lower flange 22. The lower edge of the wall It is r further reinforced by a transverse angle member 23. The frame structure I4 is further reinforced by a horizontal top transverse plate 24 which has its opposite ends secured to the opposite walls. The bottom frame [5 is provided with two spaced apart longitudinally extending slots 25 through which extends two horizontally spaced apart-levers 26 and 21. These levers 2B and 21 are pivoted on a transverse shaft 28 which is secured to the bottom Hi. The upper ends of the levers 26 and 21 are provided with relatively large apertures 29 and 30 so as to loosely receive a transverse shaft or pin 3E; The front end 32 of an expansion spring 33 is connected to the center of the transverse shaft 3| and the other end of the spring is connected to a pin 34 which, in turn, is secured to the bottom frame member l5. Additional springs 35 and 36 have their forward ends connected to the outer ends of the shaft 3| and their rearward ends connected to links 31. The links 31 have their rear ends secured to a transverse shaft 38 which, in turn, has its opposite ends secured to the outside vertical walls 16. Secured to the outer ends of the transverse shaft 38 are downwardly and rearwardly inclined supporting rear legs 39 which are adapted to extend through the hollow rear legs ll of the horse. These rear legs 39 are rigidly secured to the frame or side walls l5 by rivets 40. The lower end of the legs 39 are pivotally connected, as shown'at 4!, to pivot brackets 42 which, in turn; are rigidly secured adjacent the rear portion of each of the rear rocker sections 43. The rear rocker sections are preferably in the form of arcuate square pipes and. are adapted to receive in telescopic "ward wall"'f8 ofthe mainframe 1 4. flange '49 is pivoted to a pin in vertical aligns connection therewith front rocker sections of similar curvature, but of round cross section in the manner hereinafter described.

One of the essential features of the present invention is to provide a steering means which, under the control of the rider, permits the horse to turn to the right or the left in a relatively large arc so that the horse may be easily steered or turned during-its to and fro movement. This mechanism includes a pivoted supplemental frame or steering section, generally indicated by the reference character 44 which comprises opposite side walls 45 and 46. The opposite side walls 45 and 46 are connected by transverse rear wall 41. Formed integrally with the rear wall 41 adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof are horizontally and rearwardly extending'semicircular flanges 48 and 49. The upperfianges 48 are pivotally connected to a pin 50 which, in turn, is secured to the upper edge of the for- The lower =ment with 'the upper pin-50'. 'Thepin ""51 is secure'dto the angle member'23 and the lower-edge of -the'transverse:front end wall ts-or the main "frame 14. 'From theabove description, 'it will be "obvious that the supplemental frame 44 is pivoted toth'e main frame f4 and therefore has a 'limite'd oscillatablemovement with respect thereto.

The front sectioned is oscillated orturned with respect to the mainframe "by'a'transverse' horiizontal steering 'bar52 which'is located adjacent "the front-portion of the'horse so as to be in easilysaccessible position to the rider on'the "horse.

transverse 1 bar 56 are two forwardly projecting "boltsl51 which extend through relatively large :openings 58 cm the opposite-sides-of the front'wall 8 .andrein'forcing wall 20. The large headed *ends of .;these bolts 5-'l :are-=adapted 'tocontact 'the rear transverse wall 4'! for actuating "the r supplemental steering ""frame 34 about its "pivot when the'handle bar 52 is actuated. The suppiemental steering "frame-section 44 has a'forwardtransverse reinforcing plate-59 which has its foppo'site 'endssecureld 'to the opposite side walls 45. Pivote'd totheoppos'ite side"walls 45 through 'the'medium of a transverse "shaft-H60- are downwardlysextending slightly offset outwardly supportingfront legs BI. The opposite -front"1eg isupports'are secured together'at 'a'point below 'thepivot by a transverse'rod 62 which'extends athrtoughwarcuate slots 63"located in opposite "side rwalls l5 .of the supplemental frame 'section- 44. These :arcuate' slots are in transverse alignment iand'are concentrically arranged with respect to the-pivots -60 of Jthe'front leg supports'fil. The

*ends of'theslotsl63 form the stops 'for limiting the forwardi'and rearward movement of the leg supports. Rivotally .iconnected to the opposite leg supports 6| bya'transverse shaft 64 are links -65. The. opposite .-.ends ofthe'shaft B4 are rigidly :secured to theileg supports 6| so as to rigidly support the. same; together. .The connecting links 4-65;.converge;rearwardly and .are pivotally conmected at i their ;;r.ear sends 1- to .:the forward "ends of the opposite levers 2E and 21 by a transverse shaft 66. It will be noted that the relatively large apertures 29 and 30 in the upper ends of the levers 25 and 26, together with the loose pivotal connections of the links 65 with the shaft 66, furnish sufficient flexibility for turning the section 44 on its pivot. The lower ends of the front leg supports 6| are pivotally connected as shown atB'l to brackets 68 which, in turn, are secured to the front rocker sections 69. The front rocker sections 69 are round in cross section and are telescopically and slidably mounted in the front ends of the rear rocker sections 43. The front rocker sections consist of two pivoted segments, front segment 65' and intermediate segments 66' which have complementary adjoining apertured ears 6'! and 68 respectively pivotally secured together by vertical pins 69'. The ear 68 is sufficiently rounded so as to permit free reciprocation of the front rocker sections 69' with a respect tothe rearrocker-:sections fl. .Journaled .in bifurcated portions 'of the' rear ends efwthe front rocker sections "69 are rollers fl'fl,' whicha are journaled on suitable :stud's orrshafts iii so'zas to permit freetmovement'iof ithe-Ifr'ont 'rockerzsecti'ons with respect to ithe'irear rocker sections. "Mounted inibifurcated portionsoftherfrontends of "the rocker sections "and ijiournaled onittransverse shafts I2: are rubber wheels or: rollers 1.3. The shafts -72 xare Islidably Ilongitudinally mounted in -.opposite s'lotted :openings 114 so :as

to permit the rollers to move rearwari'dly rand :frictionally engage the vertical walls '15 between the bifurcated :p'ortions atirth'e ifrontssends 'of 713118 ifront rocker sections :692an'd' there'byact as :brakes on the:forwardzmovementxofthe rollers 13. 30bviously the :rollers '13 "will :ipermit 2a :islight -forward movement :in excess of 1 the: normal. movementrof ithe frontand' rear .zrocker r sections when the rider properly balances his rocking action but :if :the .:forwar.d movement rexceeds ccerLtain limitations, 'therrol'lers will::mov.e .rearwardly nn thezrslotstand brake :against the "forward edge '15. ofi jthejtfront.zrocker: section.

Summarizing the advantages andfiiunctions'of operation of my improved mocking tor 'galloping horse, it will be obvious zthat the rear legs support 39 within the :legs "ill "a're zrig-idly secured to the .main frame Withinsthe tbodyzofftheihorse,

While the 5 front legs "l2 :and leg supports 13'! :tare pivoted to the steering section or supplemental frame 14 so*thatiion theiforwand movement of the rider on the horse, the :body of the horse will move forwardly onthe pivots of the front legs to the :position vshown'in 'Fig. .13 and upon a rearward movement of athe wider the springs 33, 35 and 36"will :cause the forward'ilegs and front rocker sections :to move :tforwardly with respect to the rear-rocker 'sectionito "theiposition shownin *Fig. 2. .This movementwilldadvance the .horse forwardly Jstep'by step on each scornplete to and fromovement. If itherider' isrdesirous to turn the horse tOTthBlflBfit-OI? the right, the steering handle "52 may be turned :to actuate the 'xsupplemental frame section 544 about *its "pivot "on the pin'5l andilfl. 'When the supplemental frame section 44 is turnedto the right =or le'ft it turns the'legs 6| as a unit in the same direction, 'which, in turn, swings the front section segments :65 about their respective -pivot pins 69' also in the same direction. 'At this first-stage "in the turning operation, the intermediatexrocker segment 66 (tontheinside of the turn is' telescop'ed i slightly intoits cooperating :rea-rtubular rocking '1 section 33 while thero'cker 'segment fifi" on the outside of the turn is slightly withdrawn from its cooperating tubular section 43. In other words, the turning of the handle bar swings the supplemental frame 44 and the front legs 6|, rocker segments 65 as a unit about the pivot pins 69 of each of the rockers. In other words, the angular displacement of the front rocker segments 65 with respect to the adjacent segments is very slight on each rocker action of the horse so that the turn is made in gradual stages.

While in the above specification I have described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will, of course, be understood that the same is capable of modification and that modification may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A galloping horse comprising a main frame mounted within the body of said horse, rear legs rigidly secured to said main frame, rear rocker sections pivotally connected to the lower ends of said rear legs, a supplemental frame pivoted on substantially a vertical axis to said main frame, front legs having their upper ends pivoted on a horizontal axis to said supplemental frame, front rocker sections including segments pivoted together, certain of said segments being pivoted to the lower ends of said front legs and telescopically engaging said rear rocker sections, a handle bar mounted on said main frame, a vertical shaft secured to and extending from said bar, and means for operatively connecting said shaft to said supplemental frame for steering said horse.

2. A galloping device comprising a simulated horse, rear legs rigidly secured to the body of said horse, front legs pivoted to the body of said horse, spring actuated means mounted in said horse for normally moving the front legs forwardly, front and rear rocker sections pivotally connected to said front and rear legs respectively, said front rocker sections comprising two segments pivoted together on a vertical axis, means for telescopically connecting the front and rear rocker sections together, and means operable from the riders seat and operably related to said front legs and certain of said segments controlling the angular movement of certain of said segments with respect to the rear rocker sections for steering said device.

3. A galloping device comprising a simulated horse, rear legs rigidly secured ot the body of said horse, front legs pivoted to the body of said horse, spring actuated means mounted in said horse for normally moving the front legs forwardly, longitudinally extending curved front and rear rocker sections pivotally connected to said front and rear legs respectively, said front rocker sections comprising two segments pivoted together on the vertical axis, means for telescopically connecting the front and rear rocker sections together, means operable from the rider's seat and operably related to said front legs and certain of said segments for controlling the angular movement of certain of said segments with respect to the rear rocker sections for steering said device, and rubber rollers journaled on the forward ends of said front rocker sections.

4. A galloping device comprising a simulated horse, rear legs rigidly secured to the body of said horse, front legs pivoted to the body of said horse, spring actuated means mounted in said horse for normally moving the front legs forwardly, front and rear rocker sections pivotally connected to said front and rear legs respectively, means for telescopically connecting the front rocker sections with the adjacent rear rocker sections, means operable from the rider's seat and operably related to said front legs and front rocker sections for controlling the angular displacement of said front rocker sections with respect to the rear rocker sections for steering said device, and rubber rollers journaled and slidably mounted on the front ends of said front rocker sections.

5. A galloping device comprising a simulated horse, rear legs rigidly secured to the body of said horse, front legs pivoted to the body of said horse, spring actuated means mounted in said horse for normally moving the front legs forwardly, front and rear rocker sections pivotally connected to said front and rear legs respectively, said front rocker sections including segments pivotally connected together on a vertical axis, means for telescopically connecting the front sections with the cooperating rear rocker sections, steering means including a steering handle mounted on said horse and operative connections to said front legs and certain of said segments for controlling the relative movement of both front legs with respect to the body of said horse.

FRANK J. WEGLARZ.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Spain Oct. 19, 1909 Number 

